During the first free practice at the Zandvoort circuit, Valtteri Bottas will step aside to make room for Robert Shwartzman. Bottas will not be behind the wheel; instead, the Ferrari reserve driver will get the opportunity to take the seat for Sauber during this session. This is part of the collaboration between Sauber and Ferrari. For the Israeli-Russian driver, this will be his third official Formula 1 training.
The Rise of a Talent
Shwartzman’s career has been on an upward trajectory since he joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2017. In 2019, he convincingly won the Formula 3 title, and in the following years, he was one of the top drivers in Formula 2. Although he didn’t win a title in this class, he finished an impressive second place behind Oscar Piastri in 2021. After his Formula 2 stint, Shwartzman was appointed as a reserve driver for Ferrari. In 2023, he transitioned to the WEC championship, where he drives the Ferrari Hypercar for AF Corse. Now, he gets the opportunity to showcase his skills in Formula 1 during the first free practice on the Zandvoort circuit.
Collaboration between Sauber and Ferrari
Shwartzman’s deployment fits perfectly within the close collaboration between Sauber and Ferrari. The Swiss team has often given opportunities to talents trained by Ferrari to prove themselves in Formula 1, as was the case with Charles Leclerc in 2018. In addition, Shwartzman plays a crucial role in fulfilling the rookie obligation that every Formula 1 team has. The 24-year-old Shwartzman is the first to take on this task for Sauber this season.
